North Las Vegas recreation centers face closure

Without the fitness facility at Silver Mesa Recreation Center, Virginia Mullins would be in a wheelchair.

Plagued by health conditions, including advanced osteoporosis, asthma, blood disease and a recent knee surgery, the 75-year-old said she cannot survive without exercise.

"This has given me life at 75 to be kicking," Mullins said. "The benefit of this is tremendous to me … I feel better now than I did in my 50s."

She's been working out at the center for six years because buying a gym membership isn't a viable financial option.

"I'd have to skip meals to pay the gym," she said.

The North Las Vegas City Council is expected to decide the fate of the city's recreational centers at its 6 p.m. meeting Wednesday at City Hall, 2200 Civic Center Drive.

If the council votes to shut the doors at the Silver Mesa Recreation Center, 4025 Allen Lane, and the Neighborhood Recreation Center, 1638 N. Bruce St., the closures could go into effect as early as Sept. 1. Both facilities could be closed for a year.

City staff members recommended a plan to the council July 20 that included laying off dozens of employees, likely closing pools and facilities to help fill a $6.1 million gap in the fiscal 2012 budget.

"You will find no council member who wants to cut out these kinds of programs," Mayor Shari Buck told dozens of residents at that meeting who pleaded with city officials to keep the centers open.

The c ouncil postponed its decision until Wednesday's meeting, hoping to come to an agreement about contract concessions with the police union to fill the budget shortfall.

"They want to save money? Look at this skylight," Mullins points to the ceiling where the desert sun's rays shine into the facility, drowning out the bright fluorescent lighting. "Look at this -- why can't they turn the lights off? Turn off some of them and help with the cost."

Over the last three years in July, the center has averaged about 1,180 participants in the fitness room. Another 765 participants take advantage of the 140 classes offered. Gymnastics and dance are the most popular classes, according to center workers.

Closing the facility would devastate resident Jessica Williams' children.

"If this wasn't available, they would just be sitting at home doing nothing," the 29-year-old said. "I don't really want to resort to cartoons to keep them occupied. I like to bring them outside. This is a nice, cool place during the summer for us to be. We'd really just be stuck. There's nowhere for families to go anymore. This place is one of the last places."

Williams' 3 -year-old daughter, Ajalee , takes ballet classes. It's $24 for six ballet lessons -- an affordable alternative to more expensive private studios. Both Ajalee and her 2 -year-old brother, Grayson, also participate in the Mommy & Me dance classes with Williams.

"I enjoy interacting with them here," Williams said. "They actually need to expand the programs here. The city would make more money if they did."

Honey Lalumondiere , 66, has spent some of her senior years using the Neighborhood Recreation Center to walk in the gym, celebrate birthdays and go on trips throughout the valley with her peers.

"I get to be with those people and talk and visit," Lalumondiere said. "It's good conversation. That makes me happy. If the center closes, I'd still keep in touch with the few friends I meet down there, but I think it would bother me, not only me, but thinking about the kids who aren't getting that."

Contact Downtown and North Las Vegas View reporter Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@viewnews.com or 383-0492.